I Was Oblivious to the Subtle ‘Yandere’ Side of My Nonchalant Sex Friend Gyaru - Chapter 42-43

Chapter 42: 

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“…She’s not here.”

After parting ways with Asou-san, I hurried home a bit, but there was no sign of anyone around. I unlocked the door and returned to my room. Alone in the quiet, I sat there, waiting for Kurenai absentmindedly.

Even though it was my own home, I felt slightly nervous. Now that I had acknowledged my feelings, I didn’t know what kind of face I should show her. So, just like that one time before, I half-expected to be let down.

I half-expected that Kurenai might not come tonight either, and that the night would grow late until I fell asleep on my own. I half-expected that I would wake up to find it was already morning.

Tonight, I found myself wishing for that.

“Good work today. I’m coming in.”

With a click, the door opened, and Kurenai stepped into the room—shattering the hope I had been holding onto. No, to be honest, it was exactly what I had hoped for. Caught off guard, I responded awkwardly

“Ye-Yeah.”

“What, were you asleep?”

“N-No. You’re late today.”

“Well, I hate waiting. Did you just get back?”

“Pretty much. I walked Asou-san home.”

“Hmm. You two get along well.”

“She’s a coworker, that’s all. More importantly—what’s that you’ve got with you?”

“Energy drink. You know, we’re both just getting over being sick. I brought you one.”

With a thump, she plopped down next to me on the bed. Then she casually handed me a small bottle.

“You didn’t have to bring anything.”

“Well, I mean, we can’t do anything tonight. It felt wrong to just drop by for free.”

“Don’t make it sound like you sleep with me to cover rent.”

“Well, yeah. I guess that’d make me feel like I’m paying with my own body and I don’t like that either.”

After taking a gulp of the drink, Kurenai let out a slow breath.

“Phew.”

“Still feeling under the weather?”

“Yeah, a little. But it’s hard to relax at home.”

“…Do you not get along well with your parents?”

“It’s not that bad lately. We just don’t really talk.”

“I see.”

“How about you?”

“Well…The truth is, I don’t have parents anymore.”

“Huh?”

For the first time, Kurenai’s eyes widened as she looked at me.

“Ah, sorry, I didn’t mean to get all gloomy. My grandparents are technically my guardians.”

“…Sorry for bringing up weird stuff.”

“I brought it up. Besides, I don’t have a bad relationship with my grandparents or anything.”

“Then why did you decide to live alone?”

“Well, I guess I ran away. Staying in my hometown was hard. People knew me there.”

For some reason, the conversation between me and Kurenai kept flowing more than usual tonight. Maybe it was because we both knew nothing was going to happen afterward. I couldn’t say for sure, but for some reason, I just felt like talking. Her usual blunt responses felt oddly comforting today.

“Huh. So you were a big shot athlete, then?”

“More or less. Can’t say if I could’ve gone pro if I kept at it, though.”

“Speaking of that—did that classmate you helped at least thank you?”

“No, nothing. If anything, he seemed annoyed. He said that I turned him into an excuse so I could punch someone I personally didn’t like.”

“That’s awful. No wonder he was bullied.”

“There’s no such thing as a good reason for bullying someone.”

The way I reflexively snapped back like that… Yeah, that was just how I was. My pointless sense of justice ended up confusing people. It ended up hurting others.

“…Yeah. You’re right. But I was on the receiving end of bullying too, you know?”

“You mean those girls in the softball club? Whatever their reason was, they were in the wrong.”

“No one ever said that to me. Everyone just told me it was my own fault.”

“Are any of them at our school?”

“A few. But most of the bullies don’t even realize what they did. They come talk to me like nothing ever happened. It’s scary.”

“I see.”

I wanted to ask, Who were they? But I stopped myself.

“Don’t try to get revenge, okay?”

Kurenai leaned in and said that before I could say anything else.

“…I won’t. But if you ever need help, just say so.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? Does that mean you’ll help me?”

“Of course.”

“Of course, huh. You just don’t want me to get so messed up I stop coming over.”

“…Yeah. I’d hate that.”

“Hm. So, you’re okay with nothing happening tonight?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, you know. Since we can’t do anything.”

“…It’s fine. I got to hear a lot from you tonight.”

“Oh, okay.”

Kurenai, still holding the empty bottle, leaned her head on my shoulder.

“H-Hey.”

“I’m tired. Let me stay like this a bit?”

“S-Sure.”

“…You better protect me.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing. I’m gonna nap a little.”

Still leaning on me, Kurenai slowly closed her eyes. There were still so many things I wanted to ask, and so many things I wanted her to ask me, but… Right now, I didn’t feel like saying any of them.

Just watching her peaceful, sleeping face beside me… Somehow, that alone was enough to bring me peace.

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Chapter 43: 

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“…Huh?”

Before I knew it, I had fallen asleep too, and when I came to, it was already bright outside. Still in my everyday clothes, I had apparently laid down on the bed and dozed off. As I sat up, the first thing I did was look around for Kurenai, but she wasn’t there. Instead, there was a meal placed on the desk.

『Advance payment for helping me when I need you to.』

That was what the note she left said, and I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself. She really didn’t need to thank me. Still, I gratefully accepted it and since I accepted it, I had to keep my promise properly.

I had to protect her. I had run away from my hometown because I couldn’t handle reality, but she was still fighting her past.

I wonder if she has struggles I don’t even know about. I really don’t know anything at all.

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“Huh? You didn’t know, Minato?”

As soon as I got to school, Yumekawa came at me like it was her daily routine. As usual, she started a conversation without any context. Something about a festival?

What is she even talking about?

“No. Of course I didn’t know. I’m not from around here.”

“Oh, right, I forgot. So, you see, in our hometown, there’s this story—if a boy and a girl go to the local festival together, they’ll end up together!”

“Does this town has a matchmaking god or something?”

“Well, it’s more like a local superstition. So hey—don’t you think Asou-senpai might invite you to the festival~?”

The teasing tone in Yumekawa’s voice made my chest tighten again. So that was the hidden meaning behind her invitation. Even so, knowing that now, I still…

“I don’t know. But even if she did invite me, I wouldn’t go.”

“Ehh, why not? Isn’t someone like Asou-senpai your type?”

“I’m just not good with festivals. Especially crowds.”

“Ahh, yeah. I could see that with you, Minato. Well, I guess if going to a festival with someone meant you’d end up together, there’d be no need for dating apps.”

“Exactly.”

With that, the conversation ended, and Yumekawa quickly returned to her seat.

A festival, huh… I wonder if Kurenai has any interest in something like that. …I guess just bringing it up in conversation wouldn’t hurt.

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After school. Kurenai didn’t come over. Well, she had said that it wasn’t going to be possible this week, and at most, she might come by if she felt better—so I couldn’t really complain.

Still, just talking with her like yesterday had been enough for me to enjoy myself. But… Maybe she didn’t feel the same. Getting a little down on myself, I let the evening slip by and headed to my part-time job.

“Good work today, Aoyama-kun. Is it really okay for you to take on shift during exam week?”

As soon as I arrived, the manager asked me that.

“Yes, it’s fine. I’ll manage with some all-nighters if I have to.”

“Ohh, that’s reassuring to hear. Asou-san’s parents are pretty strict, so she can’t take many shifts. Plus, I hear she’s aiming to get into a university.”

“She is? Huh.”

I figured that after breaking up with her ex, she might’ve lost interest in college. But then again, knowing her, maybe her mood just changed again.

She does seem easily swayed. If only her interest in me would fade just as quickly… No, thinking like that is kind of rude.

“For today, it’s just the two of us, but it looks like it’ll be a slow day, so let’s take it easy. Oh yeah—are you going to any festivals this summer?”

“Again with the festival talk?”

“Again?”

“Ah, no, sorry. It just came up at school today too.”

“Haha, well of course. It’s the biggest event around here. Are you planning to go with a girl?”

“I don’t have any plans. How about you, Manager? Are you going to go there with your girlfriend?”

“Of course! After all, I got together with her on the day of the festival. Oh, by the way, we’re closed that day. Not just me slacking off—every shop in the area shuts down. Everyone goes to the festival.”

“Huh…”

Since my hometown didn’t have any notable events like that, I couldn’t quite relate, but hearing that some people spend the whole year looking forward to it… 

I guess there are a lot of things I didn’t know about.

With only that vague impression in mind, a customer arrived, and I headed over to take their order.

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